[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 66 (Friday, April 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17161-17168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6433]



[[Page 17161]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Public Awareness of Embryo Donation and/or Adoption Public 
Awareness Campaign

AGENCY: Office of Population Affairs, Office of Public Health and 
Science, Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human 
Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Announcement Type: This is the initial announcement of a 
competitive funding opportunity for cooperative agreement projects.
    Funding Opportunity Number: OPA-2007-EA.
    CFDA Number: 93.007.

DATES: To receive consideration, applications must be received no later 
than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on June 5, 2007. The application due date 
requirement in this announcement supercedes the instructions in the 
OPHS-1 form. A Letter of Intent (LOI) is requested on or by May 7, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: To receive consideration, applications must be received in 
the Office of Grants Management, Office of Public Health and Science 
(OPHS), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) c/o WilDon 
Solutions, Office of Grants Management Operations Center, 1515 Wilson 
Blvd., Third Floor, Suite 310, Arlington, VA 22209: Attention: Office 
of Population Affairs. LOIs should be sent to the same address.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Population Affairs (OPA), within 
the Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) announces the 
availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 funds to support a total of four 
to five new cooperative agreement projects, with the goal of increasing 
public awareness of embryo donation and/or adoption. OPA anticipates 
approximately $1,000,000 in funding will be available for four to five 
new cooperative agreements each in the range of $250,000 to $350,000 
per year. Projects will be funded in annual increments (budget periods) 
and for a project period of two years. Funding for all budget periods 
beyond the first year of the cooperative agreement is contingent upon 
the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the project, and 
adequate stewardship of Federal funds. Applicants must demonstrate 
experience with embryo donation and/or adoption programs that conform 
with professionally recognized standards governing embryo donation and/
or adoption and other applicable Federal or State requirements. For the 
purposes of this announcement, embryo donation and/or adoption is 
defined as the donation of frozen embryo(s) from one party to a 
recipient who wishes to bear and raise a child or children.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The OPA announces the availability of funds for FY 2007 and 
requests applications for cooperative agreement projects that will 
contribute to increasing public awareness of embryo donation and/or 
adoption.
    The OPA is under the direction of the Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Population Affairs (DASPA), who serves as the senior advisor to the 
Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH) on reproductive health science 
issues. The OPA established by PL 91-572 serves as the focal point on 
matters pertaining to population research and family planning, and is 
responsible for developing and making readily available information 
(including educational materials) on family planning and population 
growth to all persons desiring such information.
    The increasing success of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) 
has resulted in a situation in which an infertile couple typically 
creates several embryos through in-vitro fertilization (IVF). During 
IVF treatments, couples may produce many embryos in an attempt to 
conceive with several being cryopreserved (frozen) for future use. If a 
couple conceives without using all of the stored embryos, they may 
choose to release the remaining unused embryos for donation and 
adoption allowing other infertile couples the experience of pregnancy 
and birth. Embryo donation and/or adoption is a relatively new process 
in which individuals who have extra frozen embryos agree to release the 
embryos for transfer to the uterus of another woman, either known or 
anonymous to the donor(s) for the purpose of the recipient(s) 
attempting to bear a child and be that child's parent.

Legislative History

    On February 15, 2007, the President signed into law H.J. Res. 20, 
which provides fiscal year (FY) 2007 appropriations through September 
30, 2007, for continuing projects and activities of the Federal 
Government. Public Law 110-5, the ``Revised Continuing Appropriations 
Resolution, 2007'', which includes appropriations for DHHS. The bill 
does not include a statement addressing embryo adoption and/or donation 
public awareness campaign activities; however, the Revised Continuing 
Appropriations Bill for 2007 provides `` * * * such amounts as may be 
necessary, at the level specified in subsection (c) and under the 
authority and conditions provided in the applicable appropriations Act 
for fiscal year 2006, for projects or activities (includes the costs of 
direct loans and loan guarantees) that are not otherwise provided for 
and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were made 
available in the following appropriations Acts: * * * (5) The 
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and 
Related Appropriations Act, 2006.'' Public Law 109-149, The Departments 
of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2006, authorized the Secretary to a conduct public 
awareness campaign to educate Americans about the existence of frozen 
embryos available for donation and/or adoption. The Conference Report 
(H.R. Conf. Rep. 109-337) accompanying the FY 2006 Appropriations for 
the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and 
Related Agencies did not include a statement addressing embryo donation 
and/or adoption awareness activities; however, the budget table 
accompanying the conference report allocated $2 million.

Review of Grant Materials

    Grantees shall submit all materials proposed for use in the funded 
project (including, but not limited to, Web sites, videos, training 
materials, brochures, fact sheets, press releases, agendas, curricula, 
reports, journal articles, promotional pieces, advertisements, Public 
Service Announcements (PSA's), articles, mailings) to the OPA Project 
Officer for review and approval prior to use in the funded program. The 
review shall ensure that materials are consistent with the requirements 
of this announcement and other applicable grant requirements.

Grant Attribution

    The OPA is interested in making available to the public the results 
and accomplishments of activities that it funds. Therefore, grantees 
will be required to place an acknowledgment of OPA grant support and a 
disclaimer, as appropriate, on any publication written or published 
with such support and, if feasible, on any publication reporting the 
results of or describing a grant-supported activity.

II. Award Information

    Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement.
    Anticipated Total Funding: $1,000,000.

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    Anticipated Number of Awards: A total of 4-5. OPA anticipates 
funding four to five new projects.
    Expected Amounts of Individual Awards: $250,000-$350,000.
    Floor of Award Range: None.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $350,000 for the first 12 month budget 
period. OPA will not accept and review applications with budgets 
greater than the ceiling of the award range.
    Project Periods for Awards: 24 months. The projects will be awarded 
for a project period of 24 months. The initial grant award will be for 
a 12-month budget period. The award of continuation funding beyond each 
12-month budget period will be subject to the availability of funds, 
satisfactory progress on the part of the grantee, and a determination 
that continued funding would be in the best interest of the government.
    Applications are encouraged from organizations which are currently 
operating programs that have the capability of expanding and enhancing 
public awareness of embryo donation and/or adoption, and that have the 
capability to conduct a rigorous evaluation of the funded project.
    A cooperative agreement is a grant award instrument establishing an 
``assistance'' relationship between OPA and a recipient, in which 
substantial programmatic involvement with the recipient is anticipated 
during the performance of the activity. The recipient will have lead 
responsibilities in all aspects of the project, including any 
modifications to the project, conduct of the project, and preparation 
of any publications. The OPA project officer will collaborate with the 
recipients, as appropriate, and provide consultation, assistance, and 
support in planning, implementing, and evaluating all aspects of the 
proposed project plan. OPA will have substantial programmatic 
involvement during conduct of the project, through technical 
assistance, advice and coordination. Substantial involvement as a 
partner would include, for example, assisting in planning an agenda, 
selecting speakers, organizing a symposium, determining the content of 
training curricula and related educational materials, determining the 
topics or data to be reviewed as part of an assessment, and determining 
the acceptability of articles or reports. OPA will provide assistance 
in the preparation and review of any reports that may be disseminated 
as part of a funded project.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants must demonstrate previous experience with 
embryo donation and/or adoption and be knowledgeable in all elements of 
the process of embryo donation and/or adoption. Only agencies and 
organizations, not individuals, are eligible to apply. Eligible 
applicants include public agencies, non-profit organizations, and for-
profit organizations. One agency must be identified as the applicant 
organization and will have legal responsibility for the project. 
Additional agencies and organizations can be included as co-
participants, subgrantees, subcontractors, or collaborators if they 
will assist in providing expertise and in helping to meet the needs of 
the recipients.
    Any public or private nonprofit organization or agency is eligible 
to apply for a cooperative agreement grant. However, only those 
organizations or agencies which demonstrate the capability of providing 
the proposed services and meet the requirements of this announcement 
are considered for awards. Faith-based and community-based 
organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to 
apply for these embryo donation and/or adoption public awareness 
cooperative agreement projects. Please note, however, that cooperative 
agreement funds may not be used for inherently religious activities, 
such as worship, religious instruction, and proselytization. If an 
organization engages in such activities, they must be offered 
separately in time or location from the cooperative agreement program 
and participation must be voluntary for program beneficiaries. A 
cooperative agreement program, in providing services and outreach 
related to program services, cannot discriminate against current or 
prospective program beneficiaries on the basis of religion, a religious 
belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or a refusal to actively 
participate in a religious practice.
    Applicants should note that section 74.81 of the DHHS grants 
administration regulations (45 CFR part 74) indicates that except for 
awards under certain small business programs, no grant funds may be 
paid as profit to any recipient even if the recipient is a commercial 
organization. Profit is any amount in excess of allowable direct and 
indirect costs.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    None.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Kit

    Application kits may be obtained by accessing Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov or the GrantSolutions system at GrantSolution.gov. To 
obtain a hard copy of the application kit, contact WilDon Solutions at 
1-888-203-6161. Applicants may fax a written request to WilDon 
Solutions at (240) 453-8823 or e-mail the request to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#155a455d467267747b617c7b737a5561707478627c79717a7b3b767a78"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4708170f1420352629332e292128073322262a302e2b2328296924282a">[email protected]</span></a>. Applications must be prepared using Form 
OPHS-1, which can be obtained at the Web sites noted above.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    The OPA requests that you send a Letter of Intent (LOI) if you 
intend to apply for this program. Although the LOI is not required, not 
binding, and does not enter into the review of your subsequent 
application, the LOI will be used to gauge the level of interest in 
this program, estimate the potential review workload, and allow OPA to 
plan the review process. The information will be used to determine the 
number of expert reviewers needed to evaluate the applications. The 
narrative should be not more than two double-spaced pages, printed on 
one side, with one-inch margins, and in 12-point font, unreduced. The 
LOI should include the following information: ``Attention: Embryo 
Adoption Public Awareness Campaign Letter of Intent,'' name and address 
of the applicant institution; name, address and telephone number of the 
contact person; and specific objectives to be addressed by the proposed 
project.
    Applications must be prepared on the forms supplied (OPHS-1) and in 
the manner prescribed in the application kits provided by the OPA. The 
application must be signed by an individual authorized to act for the 
applicant agency and to assume responsibility for the obligations 
imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award.
    To be considered for funding, applicants must submit one signed 
original of the application and two photocopies in one package, 
including all forms and attachments. Please label the application 
envelope: ``Attention: Embryo Adoption Public Awareness Campaign.'' The 
application should be typed and should be no more than 50 double-spaced 
pages (excluding attachments), printed on one side, with one-inch 
margins, and in 12-point font, unreduced. All pages, including 
appendices should be numbered

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sequentially and stapled, or otherwise secured, in the upper left 
corner.
    Applications must include a one-page abstract of the proposed 
project. The abstract will be used to provide reviewers with an 
overview of the application, and will form the basis for the 
applications summary in grants management documents.
Program Requirements/Application Content
    Applicants will be required to develop and implement programs for a 
public awareness campaign on embryo adoption. Applicants are required 
to submit a plan and time line that demonstrate that the proposed 
public awareness campaign: (a) Will be competency-based, (b) has 
experience with embryo adoption programs that conform to 
professionally-recognized guidelines and other relevant Federal or 
State requirements, (c) will be pilot tested and appropriately 
modified, as necessary, before use, and (d) can be reliably evaluated. 
In the narrative section of the application, applicants are advised to 
describe the strategies and processes that they will use to design a 
public awareness campaign. The applicant should document its capacity 
to undertake a public awareness campaign focused on potential donors 
and/or recipients. Applicants are encouraged to present a description 
of approaches that may be used, as well as any supplemental materials 
(brochures, handouts, visual aids, and other resources). Moreover, 
applicants are advised to demonstrate a familiarity with and 
understanding of professionally recognized standards or practices (both 
medical and legal issues) pertaining to embryo adoption, as well as 
supportive services for potential donor or recipient couples. The 
applicant organization should clearly demonstrate its professional 
knowledge and experience in embryo adoption whether with potential 
donor or recipient populations.
    Applicants must make reasonable efforts to ensure that the 
individuals who design and implement the public awareness campaign are 
knowledgeable in all elements of the embryo adoption process and are 
experienced in providing such information. Applicant organizations 
should demonstrate that they have access to frozen embryos for adoption 
either directly or through partnership arrangements. Applicants should 
include information about the number of frozen embryos to which they 
have access, their history in working with either potential donor or 
recipient couples, and the organization's capacity to facilitate an 
embryo adoption public awareness campaign. In the project narrative, 
applicants are encouraged to present a plan that may be used for 
working with potential donors and/or recipients under the proposed 
public awareness campaign.
Application Narrative
    In the narrative section of the application, applicants are advised 
to describe the strategies and processes that they will use. The 
applicant should document its capacity to undertake a project that is 
focused on increasing public awareness of embryo donation and/or 
adoption. Applicants are encouraged to present a description of 
approaches that may be used, as well as any supplemental materials. 
Moreover, applicants are advised to demonstrate a familiarity with and 
understanding of professionally recognized standards or practices (both 
medical and legal issues) pertaining to embryo donation and/or 
adoption, as well as supportive services for potential donor or 
recipient couples. The applicant organization should clearly 
demonstrate its professional knowledge and experience in embryo 
donation and/or adoption.
    Applicants should include information about their history in 
working with embryo donation and/or adoption, and the organization's 
capacity to further the goal of increasing public awareness of embryo 
donation and/or adoption. As part of the project narrative, applicants 
are advised to describe the methods they will use to recruit, select, 
train and evaluate individuals who will implement the project.
    Applicants, in the project narrative, are encouraged to present a 
plan for evaluation of the project. The evaluation plan should be two 
tiered to address: (1) Process, including the planning, content, and 
quality of the products (e.g., videos, pamphlets, journal articles, 
presentations, survey instruments, focus groups projects, pilot test 
reports, conference proceedings, etc.) produced and (2) participant 
satisfaction and/or project effectiveness, as appropriate. Applicants 
that do not have the in-house capacity to conduct an evaluation are 
advised to propose contracting with a third party evaluator to conduct 
the evaluation.
    Applicants should prepare a project description statement in 
accordance with the following general instructions and use the 
information provided in this section and the evaluation criteria 
section to develop the application content. Applications will be 
evaluated on the criteria listed, so it is important to follow them in 
describing your program plan. The narrative should contain the 
following sections in the order presented below:
    1. Project Summary/Abstract: Provide a summary of the project 
description not to exceed one page. Care should be taken to produce an 
abstract/summary that accurately and concisely reflects the proposed 
project since the abstract will be used to provide reviewers with an 
overview of the application, will form the basis for an application 
summary in official documents, and it may be posted on the OPA web 
site. It should describe the objectives of the project, the approach to 
be used, and the results or benefits expected.
    2. Objectives and Need for Assistance: Clearly identify the 
physical, economic, social, legal, financial, institutional, and/or 
other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need for assistance must be 
demonstrated and the principal and subordinate objectives of the 
project must be clearly stated; supporting documentation, such as 
letters of support and testimonials from concerned interests other than 
the applicant, may be included. Describe the rationale for use of the 
proposed approach based upon previous practice and review of the 
literature and/or evaluation findings. Any relevant data based on 
studies should be included or referred to in the endnotes/footnotes. In 
developing the project description, the applicant may volunteer to 
provide information on the total range of related projects being 
conducted or supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be 
outside the scope of the program announcement.
    Describe the specific geographic region that will be served by the 
organization. This section should include a justification for the 
selection of the region, based on, for example, geographic size or the 
number and types of ART centers in the area. There are no geographic 
restrictions on where the prospective projects may be conducted. The 
OPA will accept applications for projects of national, regional, or 
local scope. The rationale for the project scope must be justified in 
detail.
    3. Approach: Provide a detailed work plan and timetable for both 
the first and second year of the proposed project. Outline a plan of 
action, which describes the scope and detail of how the proposed work 
will be accomplished. Account for all functions or activities 
identified in the application. Cite factors that might accelerate or 
decelerate the work, and state your reason for taking the proposed 
approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of the 
project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in cost 
or time,

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or extraordinary social and community involvement. Provide quantitative 
monthly or quarterly projections of the accomplishments to be achieved 
for each function or activity in such terms as the number of program 
activities to be held, or appropriate measurable outcomes. When 
accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function, list them 
in chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments and 
their target dates.
    4. Evaluation: Provide a narrative addressing how the results of 
the project and the conduct of the project will be evaluated. In 
addressing the evaluation of results, state how you will determine the 
extent to which the project has achieved its stated objectives and the 
extent to which the accomplishment of objectives can be attributed to 
the project. Discuss the criteria to be used to evaluate results, and 
explain the methodology that will be used to determine if the needs 
identified and discussed are being met and if the project results and 
benefits are being achieved. With respect to the conduct of the 
project, define the procedures to be employed to determine whether the 
project is being conducted in a manner consistent with the work plan 
presented and discuss the impact of the project's various activities on 
the project's effectiveness.
    5. Organizational Profiles: Provide information on the applicant 
organization and cooperating partners such as organizational charts, 
financial statements, audit reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed 
Public Accountants, Employer Identification Numbers, names of bond 
carriers, contact persons and telephone numbers, and other 
documentation of professional accreditation, information on compliance 
with Federal/State/local government standards, documentation of 
experience in the program area, and other pertinent information.
    6. Budget and Budget Justification: Provide a narrative budget 
justification that describes how the categorical costs are derived. 
Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, and allocability of the proposed 
costs. Identify the project director or principal investigator, if 
known. For each staff person, provide the title, time commitment to the 
project (in months), time commitment to the project (as a percentage or 
full-time equivalent), annual salary, grant salary, and wage rates. Do 
not include the costs of consultants or personnel costs of delegate 
agencies or of specific project(s) or businesses to be financed by the 
applicant. Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that 
comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, 
retirement insurance, and taxes, unless treated as part of an approved 
indirect cost rate. Include information on the costs of project-related 
travel by employees of the applicant organization (does not include 
costs of consultant travel). For each trip, show the total number of 
traveler(s), travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage 
allowances, if privately owned vehicles will be used, and other 
transportation costs and subsistence allowances. For each type of 
equipment requested, provide a description of the equipment, the cost 
per unit, the number of units, the total cost, and a plan for use on 
the project, as well as use or disposal of the equipment after the 
project ends. An applicant organization that uses its own definition 
for equipment should provide a copy of its policy or section of its 
policy which includes the equipment definition. Specify general 
categories of supplies and their costs. Show computations and provide 
other information, which supports the amount requested. Include 
information on the costs of all contracts for services and goods except 
for those, which belong under other categories such as equipment, 
supplies, construction, etc. Third-party evaluation contracts (if 
applicable) and contracts with secondary recipient organizations, 
including delegate agencies and specific project(s) or businesses to be 
financed by the applicant, should be included under this category. 
Whenever the applicant intends to delegate part of the project to 
another agency, the applicant must provide a detailed budget and budget 
narrative for each delegate agency, by agency title, along with the 
required supporting information.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    To be considered for review, applications must be received by the 
Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Grants Management, c/o 
WilDon Solutions, by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on June 5, 2007. Applications 
will be considered as meeting the deadline if they are received on or 
before the deadline date. The application due date requirement in this 
announcement supercedes the instructions in the OPHS-1 form.
Submission Mechanisms
    The Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) provides multiple 
mechanisms for the submission of applications, as described in the 
following sections. Applicants will receive notification via mail from 
the OPHS Office of Grants Management confirming the receipt of 
applications submitted using any of these mechanisms. Applications 
submitted to the OPHS Office of Grants Management after the deadlines 
described below will not be accepted for review. Applications which do 
not conform to the requirements of the grant announcement will not be 
accepted for review and will be returned to the applicant.
    While applications are accepted in hard copy, the use of the 
electronic application submission capabilities provided by the 
GrantSolutions system or the Grants.gov Website Portal is encouraged. 
Applications may only be submitted electronically via the electronic 
submission mechanisms specified below. Any applications submitted via 
any other means of electronic communication, including facsimile or 
electronic mail, will not be accepted for review.
    In order to apply for new funding opportunities which are open to 
the public for competition, you may access the Grants.gov website 
portal. All OPHS funding opportunities and application kits are made 
available on Grants.gov. If your organization has/had a grantee 
business relationship with a grant program serviced by the OPHS Office 
of Grants Management, and you are applying as part of ongoing grantee 
related activities, please access GrantSolutions.gov.
    Electronic grant application submissions must be submitted no later 
than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date specified in the DATES 
section of the announcement using one of the electronic submission 
mechanisms specified below. All required hardcopy original signatures 
and mail-in items must be received by the OPHS Office of Grants 
Management no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the next business day 
after the deadline date specified in the DATES section of the 
announcement.
    Applications will not be considered valid until all electronic 
application components, hardcopy original signatures, and mail-in items 
are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management according to the 
deadlines specified above. Application submissions that do not adhere 
to the due date requirements will be considered late and will be deemed 
ineligible. Applicants are encouraged to initiate electronic 
applications early in the application development process, and to 
submit early on the due date or before. This will aid in addressing any 
problems with submissions prior to the application deadline.

[[Page 17165]]

Electronic Submissions via the Grants.gov Website Portal
    The Grants.gov Website Portal provides organizations with the 
ability to submit applications for OPHS grant opportunities. 
Organizations must successfully complete the necessary registration 
processes in order to submit an application. Information about this 
system is available on the Grants.gov Web site, http://www.grants.gov.
    In addition to electronically submitted materials, applicants may 
be required to submit hard copy signatures for certain Program related 
forms, or original materials as required by the announcement. It is 
imperative that the applicant review both the grant announcement, as 
well as the application guidance provided within the Grants.gov 
application package, to determine such requirements. Any required hard 
copy materials, or documents that require a signature, must be 
submitted separately via mail to the OPHS Office of Grants Management, 
and, if required, must contain the original signature of an individual 
authorized to act for the applicant agency and the obligations imposed 
by the terms and conditions of the grant award. When submitting the 
required forms, do not send the entire application. Complete hard copy 
applications submitted after the electronic submission will not be 
considered for review.
    Electronic applications submitted via the Grants.gov Website Portal 
must contain all completed online forms required by the application 
kit, the Program Narrative, Budget Narrative and any appendices or 
exhibits. All required mail-in items must be received by the due date 
requirements specified above. Mail-In items may only include 
publications, resumes, or organizational documentation. When submitting 
the required forms, do not send the entire application. Complete hard 
copy applications submitted after the electronic submission will not be 
considered for review.
    Upon completion of a successful electronic application submission 
via the Grants.gov Website Portal, the applicant will be provided with 
a confirmation page from Grants.gov indicating the date and time 
(Eastern Time) of the electronic application submission, as well as the 
Grants.gov Receipt Number. It is critical that the applicant print and 
retain this confirmation for their records, as well as a copy of the 
entire application package.
    All applications submitted via the Grants.gov Website Portal will 
be validated by Grants.gov. Any applications deemed ``Invalid'' by the 
Grants.gov Website Portal will not be transferred to the GrantSolutions 
system, and OPHS has no responsibility for any application that is not 
validated and transferred to OPHS from the Grants.gov Website Portal. 
Grants.gov will notify the applicant regarding the application 
validation status. Once the application is successfully validated by 
the Grants.gov Website Portal, applicants should immediately mail all 
required hard copy materials to the OPHS Office of Grants Management to 
be received by the deadlines specified above. It is critical that the 
applicant clearly identify the organization name and Grants.gov 
Application Receipt Number on all hard copy materials.
    Once the application is validated by Grants.gov, it will be 
electronically transferred to the GrantSolutions system for processing. 
Upon receipt of both the electronic application from the Grants.gov 
Website Portal, and the required hardcopy mail-in items, applicants 
will receive notification via mail from the OPHS Office of Grants 
Management confirming the receipt of the application submitted using 
the Grants.gov Website Portal.
    Applicants should contact Grants.gov regarding any questions or 
concerns regarding the electronic application process conducted through 
the Grants.gov Website Portal.
Electronic Submissions via the GrantSolutions System
    The electronic grants management system, GrantSolutions.gov, 
provides for applications to be submitted electronically. When 
submitting applications via the GrantSolutions system, applicants are 
required to submit a hard copy of the application face page (Standard 
Form 424) with the original signature of an individual authorized to 
act for the applicant agency and assume the obligations imposed by the 
terms and conditions of the grant award. If required, applicants will 
also need to submit a hard copy of the Standard Form LLL and/or certain 
Program related forms (e.g., Program Certifications) with the original 
signature of an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency. 
When submitting the required forms, do not send the entire application. 
Complete hard copy applications submitted after the electronic 
submission will not be considered for review.
    Electronic applications submitted via the GrantSolutions system 
must contain all completed online forms required by the application 
kit, the Program Narrative, Budget Narrative and any appendices or 
exhibits. The applicant may identify specific mail-in items to be sent 
to the Office of Grants Management separate from the electronic 
submission; however, these mail-in items must be entered on the 
GrantSolutions Application Checklist at the time of electronic 
submission, and must be received by the due date requirements specified 
above. Mail-In items may only include publications, resumes, or 
organizational documentation. When submitting the required forms, do 
not send the entire application. Complete hard copy applications 
submitted after the electronic submission will not be considered for 
review.
    Upon completion of a successful electronic application submission, 
the GrantSolutions system will provide the applicant with a 
confirmation page indicating the date and time (Eastern Time) of the 
electronic application submission. This confirmation page will also 
provide a listing of all items that constitute the final application 
submission including all electronic application components, required 
hardcopy original signatures, and mail-in items, as well as the mailing 
address of the OPHS Office of Grants Management where all required hard 
copy materials must be submitted.
    As items are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management, the 
electronic application status will be updated to reflect the receipt of 
mail-in items. It is recommended that the applicant monitor the status 
of their application in the GrantSolutions system to ensure that all 
signatures and mail-in items are received.
Mailed or Hand-Delivered Hard Copy Applications
    Applicants who submit applications in hard copy (via mail or hand-
delivered) are required to submit an original and two copies of the 
application. The original application must be signed by an individual 
authorized to act for the applicant agency or organization and to 
assume for the organization the obligations imposed by the terms and 
conditions of the grant award.
    Mailed or hand-delivered applications will be considered as meeting 
the deadline if they are received by the OPHS Office of Grant 
Management on or before 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date 
specified in the DATES section of the announcement. The application 
deadline date requirement specified in this announcement supersedes the 
instructions in the OPHS-1. Applications that do not meet the deadline 
will be returned to the applicant unread.

[[Page 17166]]

4. Intergovernmental Review

    This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review 
requirements of Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of 
Federal Programs,'' as implemented by 45 CFR part 100.

5. Funding Restrictions

    The allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and necessity of 
direct and indirect costs that may be charged to OPHS grants are 
outlined in the following documents: OMB Circular A-21 (Institutions of 
Higher Education); OMB Circular A-87 (State and Local Governments); OMB 
Circular A-122 (Nonprofit Organizations); and 45 CFR part 74, Appendix 
E (Hospitals). Copies of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Circulars are available on the Internet at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_circulars.html.
    Applicants for cooperative agreements are expected to anticipate 
and justify their funding needs and the activities to be carried out 
with those funds in preparing the budget and accompanying narrative 
portions of their applications. If applicants are uncertain whether a 
particular cost is allowable, they should contact the OPHS Office of 
Grants Management at 240-453-8822 for further information.

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    Each application for a cooperative agreement grant project will be 
evaluated individually according to the following criteria by a panel 
of independent reviewers appointed by the OPHS. Before the review panel 
convenes, each application will be screened for applicant organization 
eligibility, as well as to make sure the application contains all of 
the essential elements.
    Applicants that meet the requirements of this program announcement 
will be notified by the Office of Grants Management. A panel of at 
least three reviewers will use the evaluation criteria listed below to 
determine the strengths and weaknesses of each application, provide 
comments and assign numerical scores. Applicants should address each 
criterion in the project application. The point values (summing up to 
100) indicate the maximum numerical weight each criterion will be 
accorded in the review process.
Criterion 1: Objectives and Need for Assistance (30 Points)
    Applicants must demonstrate a clear understanding of the 
legislative goals and demonstrate how their approach to the project 
design will contribute to achieve the legislative goals. Applicants 
must also demonstrate an understanding of the information and skills 
needed by the designated staff, as well as of the intended audience. 
Applicants should provide letters of commitment or Memoranda of 
Understanding from organizations, agencies, and consultants that will 
be partners or collaborators in the proposed project. These documents 
should describe the role of the agency, organization, or consultant and 
detail specific tasks to be performed. Specific review criteria 
include:
    (1) Extent to which the application reflects an understanding of 
the legislative goals of the public awareness campaign for embryo 
donation and/or adoption, and implementation will contribute to 
achieving the legislative goals;
    (2) Extent to which the application clearly describes and documents 
an understanding of the need for assistance to support and/or enhance 
existing efforts regarding public awareness of embryo donation and/or 
adoption;
    (3) Extent to which the application reflects a knowledge and 
understanding of the challenges involved with embryo donation and/or 
adoption, and in increasing public awareness about embryo donation and/
or adoption;
    (4) Extent to which the application reflects a knowledge and 
understanding of the medical and legal framework of embryo donation 
and/or adoption, and the services and resources in the geographic area 
in which the proposed project will be conducted;
    (5) Extent to which the application explains how the proposed 
project will contribute to increased knowledge of the problems, issues, 
and effective strategies and best practices in the field of embryo 
donation and/or adoption; and,
    (6) Extent to which the application presents a vision of how the 
project will advance embryo donation and/or adoption public awareness, 
and discusses broad contextual factors that will facilitate or impede 
increasing public awareness of embryo donation and/or adoption.
Criterion 2: Approach (30 Points)
    In this section, applicants are expected to define goals and 
specific, measurable objectives for the project. Goals are an end 
product of an effective project. Objectives are measurable steps for 
reaching goals. Applicants are advised to describe a preliminary, yet 
appropriate and feasible plan of action pertaining to the scope of the 
proposed project and provide details on how the proposed project will 
be accomplished. If the project involves partnerships with other 
agencies and organizations, then the roles of each partner should be 
clearly specified. Applicants are required to describe how the project 
will be evaluated to determine the extent to which it has achieved its 
stated goals and objectives. Applicants are expected to present a 
project design that includes detailed procedures for documenting 
project activities that is sufficient to implement the goals and 
provide for an evaluation. The evaluation design is expected to include 
process and outcome analyses, if feasible. Applicants are expected to 
report on their evaluation results in their final report to the OPHS 
upon completion of the project period. Applicants are required to 
describe the activities that they will develop pursuant to the project. 
Applicants should discuss the intended audiences for these activities 
(e.g., ART centers, adoption organizations, practitioners, professional 
organizations that work with infertile couples, potential recipients, 
or donors) and present a dissemination plan specifying the venues for 
conveying the information. This criterion consists of four broad 
topics: (A) project design, (B) implementation, (C) evaluation, and (D) 
dissemination. Specific review criteria include:
    (A) Design of the Project. (1) Extent to which the application 
reflects a familiarity with and understanding of professionally 
recognized standards and/or other relevant Federal or State 
requirements pertaining to embryo donation and/or adoption.
    (2) Extent to which the proposed project goals, objectives, and 
outcomes are clearly specified and measurable, and reflect an 
understanding of the context in which embryo donation and/or adoption 
operates; and,
    (3) Extent to which the application presents an approach that is: 
(a) Competency based, (b) consistent with the nationally recognized 
guidelines, and (c) can be evaluated.
    (B) Implementation. (1) Extent to which the application clearly 
describes and provides a justification for the selection of the 
geographic region that will be served by the project;
    (2) Extent to which the application presents an appropriate, 
feasible, and realistic plan for conducting the project;
    (3) Extent to which the application presents an appropriate, 
feasible and realistic plan for recruiting, selecting, and training 
individuals to conduct the project;
    (4) Extent to which the application provides an appropriate, 
feasible and

[[Page 17167]]

realistic plan for documenting project activities and results, that can 
be used to describe and evaluate the project, and participant 
satisfaction; and,
    (5) Extent to which the proposed project will establish and 
coordinate linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations.
    (C) Evaluation. (1) Extent to which the methods of evaluation are 
feasible, comprehensive, and appropriate to the goals, objective, and 
context of the project;
    (2) Extent to which the applicant provides an appropriate, 
feasible, and realistic plan for evaluating the project, including 
performance feedback and assessment of program progress that can be 
used as a basis for program adjustments;
    (3) Extent to which the methods of evaluation include process and 
outcome analyses, as appropriate, for assessing the effectiveness of 
program strategies and the implementation process; and,
    (4) Extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of 
objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended 
outcomes of the program and will produce quantitative and qualitative 
results.
    (D) Dissemination. (1) Extent to which the application provides an 
appropriate, feasible and realistic plan for dissemination of 
information and related educational materials;
    (2) Extent to which the intended audience is clearly identified and 
defined and is appropriate to the goals of the proposed program;
    (3) Extent to which the program's products will be useful to the 
respective audiences;
    (4) Extent to which the applicant presents a realistic schedule for 
developing these products, and provides a dissemination plan that is 
appropriate in scope and budget to each of the audiences; and,
    (5) Extent to which the products to be developed during the program 
are described clearly and will address the goal of dissemination of 
information and are designed to support evidence-based improvements of 
practices in the field.
Criterion 3: Organizational Profile (20 Points)
    Applicants need to demonstrate that they have the capacity to 
implement the proposed program. Capacity includes: (1) Previous 
experience with similar projects; (2) experience with the target 
audience; (3) qualifications and experience of the project leadership; 
(4) experience and commitment of any consultants and subcontractors; 
and, (5) appropriateness of the organizational structure. This 
criterion consists of three broad topics: (A) management plan, (B) 
staff qualifications, and (C) organizational capacity and resources.
    Applicants are expected to present a sound and feasible management 
plan for implementing the proposed program. This section should detail 
how the program will be structured and managed, how the timeliness of 
activities will be ensured, how quality control will be maintained, and 
how costs will be controlled. The role and responsibilities of the lead 
agency should be clearly defined and, if appropriate, applicants should 
discuss the management and coordination of activities carried out by 
any partners, subcontractors, and consultants. Applicants should 
include a list of organizations and consultants who will work with the 
project, along with a short description of the nature of their 
contribution or effort. Applicants are also expected to produce a time 
line that presents a reasonable schedule of target dates, and 
accomplishments. The time line should include the sequence and timing 
of the major tasks and subtasks, important milestones, reports, and 
completion dates. The application should also discuss factors that may 
affect project implementation or the outcomes and present realistic 
strategies for the resolution of these difficulties.
    Applicants must provide evidence that project staff have the 
requisite experience, and expertise to carry out the proposed project 
on time, within budget, and with a high degree of quality. Include 
information on staff knowledge of the medical and legal issues 
concerning embryo donation and/or adoption, and experience working in 
this area. Brief resumes of current and proposed staff, as well as job 
descriptions, should be included. Resumes must indicate the position 
that the individual will fill, and each position description must 
specifically describe the job as it relates to the proposed project.
    Applicants must show that they have the organizational capacity and 
resources to successfully carry out the project on time and to a high 
standard of quality, including the capacity to resolve a variety of 
technical and management problems that may occur. If the proposed 
project involves partnering and/or subcontracting with other agencies/
organizations, then the application should include an organizational 
capability statement for each participating organization documenting 
the ability of the partners and/or subcontractors to fulfill their 
assigned roles and functions. Specific review criteria include:
    (A) Management Plan. (1) Extent to which the management plan 
presents a realistic approach to achieving the objectives of the 
proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined 
responsibilities, time lines, and milestones for accomplishing project 
tasks;
    (2) Extent to which the role and responsibilities of the lead 
agency are clearly defined and the time commitments of the project 
director and other key project personnel (including consultants) are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
project; and,
    (3) Extent to which the applicant discusses factors that may affect 
the development and implementation of the project and presents 
realistic strategies for the resolution of these difficulties.
    (B) Staff Qualifications. (1) Extent to which the proposed project 
director, key project staff, and consultants have the necessary 
technical skill, knowledge, and experience to successfully carry out 
their responsibilities; and,
    (2) Extent to which staffing is adequate for the proposed project, 
including administration, program services, data processing and 
analysis, evaluation, reporting and implementation of the project.
    (C) Organizational Capacity and Resources. (1) Extent to which the 
applicant and partnering organizations collectively have experience in 
embryo donation and/or adoption consistent with professionally 
recognized guidelines;
    (2) Extent to which the applicant has experience in developing and 
implementing similar projects; and,
    (3) Extent to which the applicant has adequate organizational 
resources for the proposed project, including administration, program 
operations, data processing and analysis, and evaluation.
Criterion 4: Budget and Budget Justification (20 Points)
    Applicants are expected to present a detailed budget for both the 
first and second year budget periods. The budget should present 
reasonable project costs, appropriately allocated across component 
areas and sufficient to accomplish the objectives. Consideration shall 
be given to project delays due to start-up when preparing the budget. 
Applicants are expected to allocate sufficient funds in the budget to 
provide for two meetings each year with the Project Officer in 
Rockville, Maryland, and regular conference calls for programmatic 
collaboration during the performance of the project. Specific review 
criteria include:

[[Page 17168]]

    (1) Extent to which applicant demonstrates that the project costs 
and budget information submitted for the proposed program are 
reasonable and justified in terms of the proposed tasks and the 
anticipated results and benefits; and,
    (2) Extent to which the fiscal control and accounting procedures 
are adequate to ensure prudent use, proper and timely disbursement, and 
an accurate accounting of funds received under this announcement.
Review and Selection Process
    Each application submitted to the OPHS Office of Grants Management 
will be screened to determine whether it was received by the closing 
date and time.
    The results of a competitive review are a primary factor in making 
funding decisions. In addition, Federal staff will conduct 
administrative reviews of the applications and, in light of the results 
of the competitive review, will recommend applications for funding to 
the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs (DASPA). The 
DASPA may also solicit and consider comments from others within DHHS in 
making funding decisions. Final grant awards decisions will be made by 
the DASPA. The DASPA will fund those projects which will, in his/her 
judgment, best promote the purposes of this program, within the limits 
of funds available for such projects.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    The OPA does not release information about individual applications 
during the review process. When final decisions have been made, 
successful applicants will be notified by letter of the outcome of the 
final funding decisions. The official document notifying an applicant 
that a project as been approved for funding is the Notice of Grant 
Award (NGA), signed by the OPHS Grants Management Officer, which sets 
forth the amount of funds granted, the terms and conditions of the 
award, the effective date of the grant, the budget period for which 
initial support will be given, and the total project period for which 
support is contemplated. Every effort will be made to notify all 
unsuccessful applicants as soon as possible after final decisions are 
made.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    In accepting this award, the grantee stipulates that the award and 
any activities thereunder are subject to all provisions in 45 CFR parts 
74 (non-governmental) and 92 (governmental) currently in effect or 
implemented during the period of the grant.
    The DHHS Appropriations Act requires that when issuing statements, 
press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other 
documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part 
with Federal money, grantees shall clearly state the percentage and 
dollar amount of the total costs of the program or project which will 
be financed with Federal money and the percentage and dollar amount of 
the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by non-
governmental sources.

3. Reporting Requirements

    A successful applicant under this notice will submit: (a) Progress 
reports; (b) annual Financial Status Reports; and (c) a final 
performance report, including an evaluation report, and Financial 
Status Report. Reporting formats are established in accordance with 
provisions of the general regulations which apply under 45 CFR parts 74 
and 92. Applicants must submit all required reports in a timely manner, 
in recommended formats, and submit a final report on the project, 
including any information on evaluation results, at the completion of 
the project period.
    The final performance report should contain an overview of the 
program from start to finish, including information on: (a) Summary of 
the project, (b) state of the major goals and objectives of the 
project, (c) list of significant accomplishments, (d) description of 
innovative features, (e) statement of significant problems encountered 
and solutions developed, (f) a complete written disclosure of any 
invention, curriculum, publication, video, pamphlet conceived or 
produced as part of the grant funded project, (g) a copy of any 
products developed in association with the project. The final 
evaluation report should reflect an assessment of the program. It 
should describe factors contributing to both program success and 
problem areas. The report should include a description of the project's 
objectives, interventions, evaluation model and hypotheses, findings, 
and conclusions. The report should include a summary of the program 
statistics and findings. It should discuss the implications of project 
findings as they relate to the project objectives, as well as a set of 
recommendations based on the findings (where appropriate). The 
appendices to the evaluation report should include any data collection 
instruments and relevant references. Copies of any published articles, 
based on the project or project evaluation findings are also requested.
    Agencies receiving $500,000 or more in total Federal funds are 
required to undergo an annual audit as described in OMB Circular A-133, 
``Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations.''

VII. Agency Contacts

    For application kits, submission of applications, and information 
on budget and business aspects of the application, please contact: 
WilDon Solutions, Office of Grants Management Operations Center, 1515 
Wilson Blvd., Third Floor Suite 310, Arlington, VA 22209 at 1-888-203-
6161, e-mail <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ca859a8299adb8aba4bea3a4aca58abeafaba7bda3a6aea5a4e4a9a5a7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="226d726a714550434c564b4c444d625647434f554b4e464d4c0c414d4f">[email protected]</span></a>, or fax 703-351-1138.
    Program Office Contact: Evelyn Kappeler, Department of Health and 
Human Services, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of 
Population Affairs, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 700, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852. E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d396a5b6bfaabdfd98b2a3a3b6bfb6a193bbbba0fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="367340535a4f58187d574646535a5344765e5e4518515940">[email protected]</span></a>; telephone: 240-453-
2837.

    Dated: April 2, 2007.
Evelyn M. Kappeler,
Acting Director, Office of Population Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E7-6433 Filed 4-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-28-P


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